Difference between revisions of "Counterspell"

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(Created page with "Andrew sez: A basic counter spell showdown would be Caster A1 targeting Caster B1 with a spell, say, "Fireball", and Caster B1, made aware of the Fireball perhaps due to some Tr...")
 
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Andrew sez:
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'''Counterspelling''' is the means by which a mage can thwart a spell from an enemy caster as it's being cast. It is very similar to a parry, except instead of defending a weapon's attack with another weapon, this is defending a spell with another spell.
  
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A basic counter spell showdown would be Caster A1 targeting Caster B1 with a spell, say, "Fireball", and Caster B1, made aware of the Fireball perhaps due to some Trump(?), conjures "Ice Blast" in response. Both the spells then resolve, with the Ice Blast canceling the Fireball and both casters surviving.
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Any mage who is targeted by a spell (either directly or in the area of effect) has a chance to counter it. Be careful — a character can either save against the spell or make a counterspell but not both! If a mage is targeted by a support spell (one with no [[Attack Roll]]), he can opt to counterspell instead of the save.  If a character is subject to an attack spell (one with an [[Attack Roll]] using the ''Magic'' [[weapon skill]]), he make the [[Dodge]] Roll. If failed, the mage can opt to counterspell instead of the [[Guard Roll]], taking the difference as damage.
  
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A cool scenario would be to imagine two (or more) groups of casters going at it -- Group A and Group B. Caster A1 targets Caster B1 with the Fireball again, with Caster B1 responding by targeting Caster A1 with the Ice Blast. Allowing for creative spell names, Caster A2 then targets Group B with "Song of Summer" which suppresses Ice-based magic. The spells would "stack" with Song of Summer on top of Ice Blast on top of Fireball, much like in Magic: the Gathering. Once all the declared spells were in, when they resolved, Song of Summer would fire off first, canceling out Ice Blast, and the Fireball would launch unhampered.
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To perform a counterspell, the mage chooses an opposing spell to cast. Spells can be canceled by using either the [[Nullify Magic]] spell, or a spell that is opposite to the one being cast. Each spell lists a ''Counter'' if it has such an opposite. The mage then makes a [[Casting Roll]] opposed by the Casting Roll made by the attacking mage. The spell by which the mage is targeted and the spell used to counter it must be at equal Intensities or the counterspell action fails.
  
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Even more complex spell-vs-spell situations could arise, both destructive and constructive, perhaps utilizing secondary spells to cancel out unwanted traits of more complicated spells: turn a party member to stone, then make him weightless, then use him as a barge to cross a chasm?
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{{examplePlay
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|caption=Example Counterspell
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|when=Aelfin the evil sorcerer targets Phineas with an Intensity 2 [[Slow]] spell.
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|action1=Aelfin makes a Casting Roll of 19
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|action2=Phineas casts an Intensity 2 [[Haste]] with a Casting Roll of 23.
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|result=The spells counteract one another. If he were to have cast Haste at Intensity 1, or failed the Casting Roll, he would be subject to the effects of Slow.
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}}
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[[Category:Magic]]

Revision as of 14:11, 1 February 2012

Counterspelling is the means by which a mage can thwart a spell from an enemy caster as it's being cast. It is very similar to a parry, except instead of defending a weapon's attack with another weapon, this is defending a spell with another spell.

Any mage who is targeted by a spell (either directly or in the area of effect) has a chance to counter it. Be careful — a character can either save against the spell or make a counterspell but not both! If a mage is targeted by a support spell (one with no Attack Roll), he can opt to counterspell instead of the save. If a character is subject to an attack spell (one with an Attack Roll using the Magic weapon skill), he make the Dodge Roll. If failed, the mage can opt to counterspell instead of the Guard Roll, taking the difference as damage.

To perform a counterspell, the mage chooses an opposing spell to cast. Spells can be canceled by using either the Nullify Magic spell, or a spell that is opposite to the one being cast. Each spell lists a Counter if it has such an opposite. The mage then makes a Casting Roll opposed by the Casting Roll made by the attacking mage. The spell by which the mage is targeted and the spell used to counter it must be at equal Intensities or the counterspell action fails.

Example Counterspell
Aelfin the evil sorcerer targets Phineas with an Intensity 2 Slow spell.
  • Aelfin makes a Casting Roll of 19
  • Phineas casts an Intensity 2 Haste with a Casting Roll of 23.
The spells counteract one another. If he were to have cast Haste at Intensity 1, or failed the Casting Roll, he would be subject to the effects of Slow.
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